Poland's modus operandi is simple: annoy Russia. That's about all it wants to do with sovereignty.

A vassal or feudatory^[1] is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held as a fiefdom.^[2] The term can be applied to similar arrangements in other feudal societies. In contrast, a fidelity, or fidelitas, was a sworn loyalty, subject to the king.^[3]

It is perfectly clear, historically speaking, that Poland (and other Visegrad countries) felt an imperative need for military protection from any future domination from the east. That is the basis for Poland's voluntary vassal status with respect to the US. Being a vassal means you contribute troops to your overlord's military adventures, as you describe, in return for his military protection. Being militarily dependent on another country is obviously a partial renouncement of sovereignty, as is the renouncement of an independent foreign policy.

I'm not denying that the Soviet bloc vassal status was much deeper, because it was constrained and because it implied strong control of internal affairs in Poland.

The notion of absolute national sovereignty is a recent concept, and like most ideals, is very unevenly applied.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}